Detergent composition

ABSTRACT

A detergent composition which has excellent stability; moisturizes the skin while giving thereto neither a taut feel nor dry feel after cleansing; and enables smooth finger-combing and does not give hair a rough feel after shampooing. The detergent composition contains (A) an anionic surfactant and (B) trimethylglycine, wherein the components (A) and (B) are added at a weight ratio (A)/(B)=1/3.5 or greater but less than 4/1 and the pH of the original composition or the pH of the composition diluted with purified water to a concentration of use is adjusted to 2 or greater but less than 6.5.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a detergent composition which hasexcellent stability; moisturizes the skin and therefore gives theretoneither a taut feel nor a dry feel when used for the skin; and enablessmooth finger-combing and does not give a rough feel to the hair aftershampooing when used for the hair.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

For detergent compositions for the skin or hair, anionic surfactantssuch as higher fatty acid salts, alkyl sulfates, alkylbenzene sulfonatesand α-olefin sulfonates have so far been used widely for their highfoaming properties. Although these surfactants have high detergency andgive the skin a cool and fresh feeling after washing, they leave a tautfeel on the skin. As low-irritating surfactants, on the other hand,sulfosuccinate surfactants, ether carboxylate surfactants, amide ethercarboxylate surfactants and N-alkylamide alkanol sulfates have beenproposed. These surfactants however are not satisfactory in foamingproperties and foam quality when used alone.

A skin detergent composition having, in combination, (A′) an anionicsurfactant and (B′) trimethylglycine at a (A′)/(B′) ratio=100/1 to 4/1is proposed as a detergent composition which lathers well and providesan excellent feeling upon use (JP-A-1999-180855). This composition isimproved in foaming properties and foam quality, however, it leaves ataut feel on the skin or a rough feel on the hair after washing. Forthis reason the composition is not satisfactory.

It is known that trimethylglycine reduces skin irritation whenincorporated in a cosmetic composition (WO91/18588), or a hairconditioning composition containing trimethylglycine and an aliphaticorganic acid (WO82/02337) and a pearly liquid detergent compositioncontaining trimethylglycine and a pearling agent (JP-A-1995-258699) areknown.

An object of the present invention is to provide a detergent compositionwhich has excellent stability; moisturizes the skin and therefore givesthereto neither a taut feel nor a dry feel when used as a skin detergentcomposition; and enables smooth finger-combing and does not give a roughfeel to the hair after shampooing when used as a hair detergent.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present inventors have found that the above-described problem can beovercome by using an anionic surfactant and trimethylglycine at aspecific ratio and adjusting the composition to be weakly acidic.

In the present invention, there is provided a detergent compositioncomprising (A) an anionic surfactant and (B) trimethylglycine, whereinthe components (A) and (B) are added at a weight ratio (A)/(B)=1/3.5 orgreater but less than 4/1 and the pH of the original composition or thepH of the composition after diluted with purified water to aconcentration of use is adjusted to 2 or greater but less than 6.5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

No particular limitation is imposed on the anionic surfactant as thecomponent (A) insofar as it is added to ordinary detergents and canadjust the pH of the composition within the above-described range.Preferred examples include (1) alkyl ether sulfates, (2) alkenyl ethersulfates, (3) ether carboxylate surfactants, (4) amide ether carboxylatesurfactants, (5) phosphate surfactants, (6) N-acylamino-acid saltsurfactants, (7) polyoxyalkylene fatty acid amide ether sulfates, (8)acylated isethionates, (9) acylated taurates and (10) N-alkylamidealkanol sulfates.

Examples of the alkyl ether sulfates (1) or alkenyl ether sulfates (2)include those having a linear or branched alkyl or alkenyl group with 10to 20 carbon atoms on average, which is added with 0.5 to 8 moles, onaverage, of an alkylene oxide per molecule. As the alkylene oxide,ethylene oxide, propylene oxide and butylene oxide can be used eithersingly or in combination as needed.

As the ether carboxylate surfactants (3) or amide ether carboxylatesurfactants (4), those represented by the following formula (1) can beused for example.R¹—(OC₃H₆)_(a)—(OC₂H₄)_(b)—OCH₂—COOA  (1)(wherein, R¹ represents a linear or branched alkyl or alkenyl grouphaving from 8 to 22 carbon atoms, an alkyl (C₈-C₂₂) phenyl group or aR²CONH—CH₂—CH₂— group (in which R² represents a linear or branched alkylor alkenyl group having from 11 to 21 carbon atoms), “a” stands for 0 to6, “b” stands for 2 to 24, and “A” represents an alkali metal, alkalineearth metal or alkanolamine salt residue such as monoethanolamine,diethanolamine or triethanolamine).

As the phosphate surfactant (5), phosphate monoester or diestersurfactants having an alkyl or alkenyl group with from 8 to 36 carbonatoms or an alkylene oxide group thereof can be used. Examples includethose represented by the following formula (2):

(wherein, R³ represents a hydrocarbon group, X¹ represents a hydrogenatom, an alkali metal, ammonium, a basic amino acid salt, alkanolaminesalt, X² represents a hydrogen atom, an alkali metal, ammonium, a basicamino acid salt, an alkanolamine salt or a group R³—(OCH₂—CH₂)_(m)— inwhich m stands for 0 to 5).

Examples of the hydrocarbon group represented by R³ in the above formulainclude linear or branched alkyl or alkenyl groups having from 8 to 36carbon atoms, in which the linear or branched alkyl groups having from 8to 20 carbon atoms are preferred. Specific examples include octyl,nonyl, decyl, undecyl, dodecyl, tetradecyl, pentadecyl, hexadecyl,octadecyl and icosyl groups.

Examples of the alkali metal as X¹ or X² include lithium, sodium andpotassium, those of the basic amino acid include arginine, lysine,histidine and ornithine, those of the alkanolamine include those havinga hydroxyalkyl group with from 2 to 3 carbon atoms such astriethanolamine, diethanolamine and monoethanolamine.

In addition, “m” stands for from 0 to 5, in which “m” is preferably 0 to2.

As such a phosphate surfactant, arginine, potassium or triethanolaminesalts of lauryl phosphoric acid, myristyl phosphoric acid, palmitylphosphoric acid or 2-hexyldecyl phosphoric acid are preferred.

As the N-acylamino-acid salt surfactant (6), those having an acyl groupwith from 8 to 24 carbon atoms are preferred. Specific examples includeN-acyl-β-alanine salt, N-acylsarcosine salt and N-acylglutamate salt. Ofthese, arginine N-lauroyl-β-alaninate, potassium N-lauroyl-β-alaninate,triethanolamine N-lauroyl-β-alaninate, sodium cocoyl glutamate, andsodium N-lauroyl-N-carboxymethyl-β-alaninate are preferred.

Examples of the polyoxyalkylene fatty acid amide ether sulfate salts (7)include those represented by the following formula (3):

(wherein, R⁴ represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, R⁵ representsa linear or branched alkyl or alkenyl group having from 7 to 23 carbonatoms, R⁶ represents a linear or branched alkyl or alkenyl group havingfrom 8 to 24 carbon atoms, n stands for 0 to 20, and M¹ represents acounterion for a sulfuric acid residue).

Examples of the acylated isethionates (8) include acylated isethionateshaving a linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated fatty acid residuehaving from 8 to 24 carbon atoms.

Examples of the acylated taurates (9) include acyl taurates having alinear or branched, saturated or unsaturated fatty acid residue havingfrom 8 to 24 carbon atoms.

Examples of the N-alkylamide alkanol sulfates (10) include thoserepresented by the following formula (4):

(wherein, R⁷ represents a linear or branched alkyl or alkenyl grouphaving from 6 to 22 carbon atoms, R⁸ represents an alkyl group havingfrom 1 to 22 carbon atoms, an alkenyl group or a hydrogen atom, R⁹represents a linear or branched alkylene group having from 1 to 5 carbonatoms, R¹⁰O represents an oxyalkylene group having from 2 to 3 carbonatoms, “d” stands for any number of from 0 to 20, “d” pieces of R¹⁰O maybe the same or different from one another, and M² represents a hydrogenatom, an alkali metal, an alkaline earth metal, ammonium, an alkanolammonium having from 2 to 9 carbon atoms in total, an alkyl ammonium oralkenyl ammonium having from 1 to 22 carbon atoms in total, an alkyl oralkenyl-substituted pyridinium having from 1 to 18 carbon atoms, or abasic amino acid).

Examples of the counterion for the anionic residue of these anionicsurfactants include alkali metal ions such as sodium and potassium,alkaline earth metal ions such as calcium and magnesium, basic aminoacids such as arginine, lysine and histidine, ammonium ions, andalkanolamines having an alkanol group with 2 or 3 carbon atoms, such asmonoethanolamine, diethanolamine, triethanolamine andtriisopropanolamine.

Anionic surfactants other than the above-described ones may be used incombination insofar as the composition can keep a weakly acidic pH. Whena higher fatty acid salt is added, saturated or unsaturated fatty acidsalts having from 10 to 24 carbon atoms on average are preferred, but anattention should be paid on selecting a counterion for them. In the caseof an alkali metal salt such as sodium or potassium salt, its fatty acidsalt is weakly alkaline; therefore it cannot be used for the compositionof the present invention at a large amount. In the case of a basic aminoacid salt such as lysine, arginine or histidine salt, on the other hand,it is possible to suppress the composition from becoming alkaline evenif its fatty acid salt is incorporated and this enables to design theformulation within a preferable pH range. It is therefore preferred touse a basic amino acid salt when a higher fatty acid salt is used incombination.

As the component (A), at least one anionic surfactant can be used andits content in the whole composition is from 0.1 to 40 wt. %, preferablyfrom 0.3 to 30 wt. % from the standpoints of rich lather and a cool andfresh feeling after washing.

Trimethylglycine as the component (B) is an intramolecular salt compoundalso called “glycine betaine”, and commercial product thereof includes“Aminocoat” (product of Asahi Kasei Chemicals Corporation). In thepresent invention, incorporation of it in an amount of from 0.1 to 40wt. %, within which the content from 0.5 to 30 wt. % in the wholecomposition is preferred from the standpoint of feeling upon use afterwashing.

In the present invention, the components (A) and (B) are added at a(A)/(B) weight ratio=1/3.5 or greater but less than 4/1, with 1/3 orgreater but less than 4/1 being more preferred. When this ratio is lessthan 1/3.5, the composition has poor stability and the skin aftercleansing therewith becomes sticky. When the ratio is 4/1 or greater, onthe other hand, the composition cannot sufficiently suppress the skin orhair from becoming dry and rough after cleansing.

The pH of the original detergent composition of the present invention orthat after diluted with purified water to a concentration of use isadjusted to from 2 or greater but less than 6.5, preferably from 4 to6.4. At a pH less than 2, the composition has poor stability, while at apH of 6.5 or greater, the composition cannot sufficiently suppress theskin or hair from becoming dry and rough after washing. The pH of thecomposition is adjusted to fall within the above-described range in aconventional manner by using an organic acid or inorganic acid. Examplesof the organic acid include citric acid, succinic acid, lactic acid,malic acid, glutamic acid, aspartic acid, pyrrolidonecarboxylic acid,tartaric acid, glycolic acid and ascorbic acid. Examples of theinorganic acid include hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid and phosphoricacid, with phosphoric acid being preferred.

In the present invention, the pH of a mouth wash or the like which isused at the original concentration is determined by measuring the pH ofthe stock solution, while the pH of a cleansing agent for hands, body,face, hair or the like which is used by diluting with water isdetermined by measuring the pH of an aqueous solution (usually, a 5 wt.% aqueous solution) of the composition diluted with purified water to aconcentration of use. The pH is measured at 25° C. by a pH meter. The pHof a sheet-impregnated type product as described later is alsodetermined either by measuring the pH of the impregnating solution atthe original concentration or by measuring after diluting it withpurified water (usually as a 5 wt. % aqueous solution).

The detergent composition of the present invention may contain asurfactant other than the above-described one, that is, an amphotericsurfactant, cationic surfactant or nonionic surfactant.

Examples of the amphoteric surfactant include fatty acid amidopropylbetaines, hydroxypropyl sulfobetaine, and desalted secondaryimidazolinium betaines.

Examples of the cationic surfactant include linear monoalkyl quaternaryammonium salts having from 12 to 16 carbon atoms and quaternary ammoniumsalts having a branched alkyl group having from 20 to 28 carbon atoms.

Examples of the nonionic surfactant include amine oxides,monoglycerides, sorbitan fatty acid esters, alkyl saccharides,polyoxyalkylene alkyl ethers, and higher fatty acid alkanolamides.Preferred examples include lauryl dimethylamine oxide, myristyldimethylamine oxide, monoglyceride isostearate, monoglyceride oleate,monoglyceride octanoate, sorbitan monocaprylate, sorbitan monolaurate,sorbitan monooleate, sorbitan sesquioleate, sorbitan monoisostearate,sorbitan trioleate and coconut oil fatty acid monoethanolamide.

At least one of these amphoteric surfactants, cationic surfactants andnonionic surfactants may be used and their total content in the wholecomposition is from 0.001 to 30 wt. %, with from 0.01 to 20 wt. % beingpreferred.

The detergent composition of the present invention may further containcomponents added to ordinary detergent compositions. Examples includeoily components such as lanoline and derivatives thereof, esters such asisopropyl myristate, oil or fats such as coconut oil and olive oil;humectants such as polyglycerin fatty acid esters; bactericides such astriclosan and trichlorocarbanilide; anti-inflammatory agents such aspotassium glycyrrhizinate and tocopherol acetate; antiseptics such asmethylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben and butylparaben; chelatingagents such as ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid and salts thereof, andhydroxyethanediphosphonic acid and salts thereof; thickeners such ascarboxyvinyl polymer, carrageenan, hydroxyethyl cellulose, and cationiccellulose; polyols such as propylene glycol, 1,3-butanediol, glycerin,sorbitol and maltitol; salts such as sodium chloride; and the otheragents such as pearling agent, scrubbing agent, perfume, colorant,ultraviolet absorber, antioxidant and plant extract.

The detergent composition of the present invention can be prepared in aconventional manner by mixing the above-described components. It can beprovided in the liquid form, for example, skin detergent compositionssuch as face wash, makeup remover, body shampoo and hand soap, and hairdetergent compositions such as shampoo, or oral detergent compositionssuch as mouth wash. In addition, sheet-impregnated type of cleansingproducts such as face-wash sheet and makeup-remover sheet obtained byimpregnating a detergent composition of a liquid type in a base materialsheet such a woven fabric, nonwoven fabric or paper and then drying thesheet if necessary.

EXAMPLES Example 1

The detergent compositions having the composition as shown in Table 1were prepared in a conventional manner and they were evaluated fornon-taut feel, moist feel, non-dry feel, non-sticky feel, smoothfinger-combing through the hair and softness of the hair aftershampooing, and stability. The results are summarized in Table 1.

In Examples, the pH of the composition was determined by measuring thepH of an aqueous solution obtained by diluting each composition withpurified water to 5 wt. % at 25° C. by using a Horiba pH meter “F-22”(product of Horiba Ltd.).

(Evaluation Method)

(1) Non-Taut Feel, Moist Feel, Non-Dry Feel, and Non-Sticky Feel of theSkin Cleansed with the Composition:

Organoleptic evaluation of the non-taut feel, moist feel, non-dry feeland non-sticky feel of each detergent composition was made in accordancewith the below-described criteria by a panel of ten Japanese femaleexperts in their 20s or 30s after they leathered 1 g of the composition,massaged the whole face with it for 60 seconds, rinsed it with runningwater and towel dried the face.

3: The face does not become taut, becomes moist, does not become dry,and does not become sticky.

2: The face becomes a little taut, a little moist, a little dry and alittle sticky.

1: The face becomes taut, does not become moist, becomes dry and becomessticky.

Their average score was calculated and the composition is ranked as A, Band C when the average scores are from 2.5 to 3.0, from 1.5 to 2.4, andfrom 1.0 to 1.4, respectively.

(2) Smooth Finger-Combing and Softness of the Hair After Shampooed withthe Composition:

Organoleptic evaluation of smoothness of finger-combing and softness ofthe hair of each detergent composition was made in accordance with thebelow-described criteria by a panel of ten Japanese female experts intheir 20s and 30s after they applied 3 g of the composition to their wethair, shampooed for 120 seconds, rinsed with running water and thendried. Their average score was calculated and each composition wasranked as in (1).

3: The hair can be finger-combed smoothly and is soft.

2: The hair cannot be finger-combed so smoothly and is a little rough.

1: The hair cannot be finger-combed smoothly and is rough.

(3) Stability:

In a 100 mL glass sample bottle, 80 g of each detergent composition waspoured. After it was stored at 5° C. for one day, its viscosity wasmeasured and evaluated in accordance with the following criteria:

A: The composition scarcely thickens.

B: A slight thickening is observed.

C: A marked thickening is observed. TABLE 1 Example products Comparativeproducts Components (wt. %) 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 A Potassium alkyl(C11, 13, 10 15 10 10 15 10 15)phosphate Potassium lauryl phosphate 1010 Sodium polyoxyethylene (2) 12 5 5 12 5 5 lauryl ether sulfate Sodiumcocoyl glutamate 5 5 (“Amisoft CS-22”, product of Ajinomoto TakaraCorporation) Sodium N-lauroyl-N- 5 5 carboxymethyl-β-alaninate BTrimethylglycine 5 10 15 4 10 10 5 10 15 4 3 55 Glycerinmono-2-ethylhexyl 5 5 ether Coconut oil fatty acid 2 2 monoethanolamide(“Amisol CME”, product of Kawaken Fine Chemicals) Lauric acid 5 5 5 5 55 amidopropylbetaine Citric acid q.s. q.s. q.s. q.s. q.s. q.s. q.s. q.s.q.s. q.s. q.s. q.s. Potassium hydroxide solution q.s. q.s. q.s. q.s.q.s. q.s. q.s. q.s. q.s. q.s. q.s. q.s. Purified water Balance BalanceBalance Balance Balance Balance Balance Balance Balance Balance BalanceBalance pH (5 wt. %) 5.0 5.5 6.0 6.4 5.5 5.5 6.8 7.2 7.8 10.9 5.5 5.5(A)/(B) weight ratio 12/5 1/2 2/3 15/4 3/2 3/2 12/5 1/2 2/3 15/4 5/13/11 Non-taut feel on the skin after A A A A A A B B B B B A cleansingMoist feel of the skin after A A A A A A B B A B B A cleansing Non-dryfeel on the skin after A A A A A A C B B C B A cleansing Non-sticky feelon the skin after A A A A A A A A A A B C cleansing Smoothness offinger-combing A A A A A A A A B B B B after shampoo Softness of hairafter shampoo A A A A A A B B C C B A Stability A A A A A A B B B B A C

Example 2 Face Wash

A face wash having the below-described composition was prepared in aconventional manner. (Components) Potassium alkyl (C11, 13, 15)phosphate 15 (wt. %) Trimethylglycine 20 Glycerin mono-2-ethylhexylether 5 Polyoxyethylene (9) tridecyl ether 5 Cocamidopropylbetaine 5Coconut oil fatty acid diethanolamide 1 Carboxyvinyl polymer 0.5Polyethylene glycol (“ALKOX E-100”; 0.5 product of Meisei ChemicalWorks) Glycerin 10 Propylene glycol 10 Phosphoric acid q.s. Titaniumoxide 0.01 Methylparaben 0.2 Perfume q.s. Dibutylhydroxytoluene 0.1Purified water Balance(pH (a 5 wt. % aqueous solution)=5.5, (A)/(B)=3/4)

Example 3 Face Wash

A face wash having the below-described composition was prepared in aconventional manner. (Components) Sodium polyoxyethylene (2) laurylether 10 (wt. %) phosphate Sodium cocoyl glutamate (“Amisoft CS-11”,product 5 of Ajinomoto·Takara Corporation) Trimethylglycine 5 Lauroylhydroxysulfobetaine 5 Hydroxyethyl cellulose 0.5 Cationic polymer(“Merquat 550”, product of Matsumoto 0.5 Trading Co.) Ethylene glycoldistearate 3 Sorbitol 10 Isoprene glycol 10 Sodium lactate 1 Micatitanium (“Timiron Starluster MP-115”, product of 0.01 Merck Japan)Sodium benzoate 0.2 Polyethylene beads 0.8 l-Menthol 0.05 Perfume q.s.Talc 3 Disodium Edetate 0.1 Purified water Balance(pH (a 5 wt. % aqueous solution)=5.0, (A)/(B)=3/1)

Example 4 Body Shampoo

A body shampoo having the below-described composition was prepared in aconventional manner. (Components) Sodium polyoxyethylene (2) laurylether 20 (wt. %) phosphate Trimethylglycine 10 Alkyl polyglucoside(“AG-10LK”, product of 5 Kao Corp) Polyoxyethylene (16) lauryl ether 2Lauroyl hydroxysulfobetaine 5 Arginine 0.5 Hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose0.5 Amphoteric polymer (“Merquat plus 3330”, product 0.5 of MatsumotoTrading Co.) Sorbitol 10 Dipropylene glycol 10 Malic acid q.s. l-Menthol0.1 Sodium benzoate 0.2 Perfume q.s. Ethylene glycol distearate 31-Hydroxyethane-1,1-diphosphonic acid 0.1 (“DEQUEST 2010CS”, product ofMitsubishi Monsanto) Colorant (Blue No. 1) 0.0002 Purified water Balance(pH (a 5 wt. % aqueous solution)=6.4, (A)/(B)=2/1)

Example 5 Shampoo

A shampoo having the below-described composition was prepared in aconventional manner. (Components) Sodium polyoxyethylene (2) laurylether sulfate 15 (wt. %) Trimethylglycine 5 Coconut oil fatty acidmonoethanolamide 5 Lauric acid amidopropylbetaine 52-Lauryl-N-carboxymethyl-N-hydroxyethyl- 5 imidazolinium betaine Serine0.5 Polyether-modified Silicone (“Silicone SH-3771E”, 0.5 product of DowCorning Toray Silicone) Dimethylpolysiloxane (“Silicone SH-200C (5000cs)”, 0.5 product of Dow Corning Toray Silicone) Propylene glycol 10Ethanol 1 Silicic anhydride 0.2 Methylparaben 0.2O-[2-Hydroxy-3-(trimethylammonio)propyl]- 0.1 hydroxyethyl cellulosechloride Thujopsis dolabrata extract 0.1 Perfume q.s. Citric acid q.s.Purified water Balance(pH (a 5 wt. % aqueous solution)=5.0, (A)/(B)=3/1)

Example 6 Hand Soap

A hand soap having the below-described composition was prepared in aconventional manner. (Components) Potassium lauryl phosphate 5 (wt. %)Trimethylglycine 2 Coconut oil fatty acid diethanolamide 3Polyoxyethylene (4) polyoxypropylene (7) butyl ether 5 Polyoxyethylene(80) hydrogenated castor oil 0.5 Lauryl dimethylamine oxide 5Cocamidopropylbetaine 5 Maltitol 0.5 Glycerin 10 Ethanol 1 Tuberosepolysaccharide 0.5 Isopropylmethylphenol (“Biozole”, product of OsakaKasei) 0.01 Sodium dehydroacetate 0.2 Perfume q.s. Purified waterBalance(pH (a 5 wt. % aqueous solution)=5.5, (A)/(B)=5/2)

Example 7 Medicated Hand Soap

A medicated hand soap having the below-described composition wasprepared in a conventional manner. (Components) Sodium polyoxyethylene(2) lauryl ether sulfate 10 (wt. %) Trimethylglycine 20 Alkyl glucoside(“AG-10LK”, product of Kao) 10 Polyoxyethylene (20) coconut oil fattyacid 1 sorbitan (“Rheodol TW-L120”, product of Kao) Polyoxyethylene (60)hydrogenated castor oil 0.5 Dipotassium glycyrrhizinate 1 Lauryltrimethylammonium chloride 10 Glycerin 10 Ethanol 1 Perfume q.s.Colorant (Yellow No. 1) 0.0001 Disodium Edetate 0.1 Methylparaben 0.1Succinic acid q.s. Purified water Balance(pH (a 5 wt. % aqueous solution)=4.5, (A)/(B)=1/2)

Example 8 Mouth Wash

A mouth wash having the below-described composition was prepared in aconventional manner. (Components) Arginine myristyl phosphate 0.5 (wt.%) Trimethylglycine 0.5 Ethanol 5 Sorbitol 10 Methylparaben 0.1Polyoxyethylene/methylpolysiloxane copolymer 0.03 (“KHF-4”, product ofShin-etsu Chemical) Benzethonium chloride 0.01 Sodium saccharine 0.001Perfume, flavor q.s. Purified water Balance(pH (stock solution)=6.0, (A)/(B)=1/1)

Example 9 Sheet-Impregnated Face Wash

A face wash having the below-described composition was prepared in aconventional manner. Cotton nonwoven fabric was impregnated withsufficient amount of prepared face wash, and then dried at 80° C. for 1minute, whereby a dry wipe sheet was obtained. Upon use, it is foamedwith water. (Components) Sodium polyoxyethylene (2) lauryl ether sulfate20 (wt. %) Trimethylglycine 10 Cocamidopropylbetaine 10 Alkyl glucoside(“AG-10LK”, product of Kao) 10 Polyethylene glycol 1500 2 1,3-Butyleneglycol 10 Eucalyptus extract 0.1 Methylparaben 0.1 Disodium Edetate 0.1l-menthol 0.05 Malic acid q.s. Polyethylene glycol 400 Balance(pH (a 5 wt. % aqueous solution)=5.5, (A)/(B)=2/1)

Detergent compositions obtainable in Examples 2 to 9 each has excellentstability. When cleansed with the skin detergent compositions obtainablein Examples 2 to 4, 6, 7, and 9, the skin becomes moist without a tautfeel and in addition, is neither dry nor sticky. When shampooed with thehair detergent composition obtainable in Example 5, the hair can becombed by fingers smoothly and is soft. When a mouth is washed with anintraoral detergent composition obtainable in example 8, the surface ofthe teeth becomes smooth and a cool and refreshed feeling lasts long.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The detergent composition of the present invention has excellentstability. After the skin is cleansed with it, it becomes moist withouta taut feel, and is neither dry nor sticky. After the hair is shampooedwith it, it can be combed smoothly by fingers and is soft. After an oralcavity is washed with it, the surface of the teeth becomes smooth and acool and fresh feeling lasts long.

1. A detergent composition comprising (A) an anionic surfactant and (B)trimethylglycine, wherein the components (A) and (B) are added at aweight ratio (A)/(B)=1/3.5 or greater but less than 4/1 and the pH ofthe original composition or the pH of the composition diluted withpurified water to a concentration of use is adjusted to 2 or greater butless than 6.5.
 2. The detergent composition according to claim 1,wherein the anionic surfactant as the component (A) is selected fromalkyl ether sulfates, alkenyl ether sulfates, ether carboxylatesurfactants, amide ether carboxylate surfactants, phosphate surfactants,N-acylamino acid salt surfactants, polyoxyalkylene fatty acid amideether sulfates, acylated isethionates, acylated taurates andN-alkylamido alkanol sulfates.
 3. The detergent composition according toclaim 1 or 2, which contains the components (A) and (B) in amounts offrom 0.1 to 40 wt. % and from 0.1 to 40 wt. %, respectively.
 4. Thedetergent composition according to any one of claims 1 to 3, furthercomprising a surfactant selected from amphoteric surfactants, cationicsurfactants and nonionic surfactants in an amount of from 0.001 to 30wt. %.
 5. The detergent composition according to any one of claims 1 to4, which is a skin detergent composition.
 6. The detergent compositionaccording to any one of claims 1 to 4, which is a face wash.